The Last Hope

I HAD WAITED a few days before trying to contact Dame Ashton again. I realized I couldn't approach her without physical evidence, or risk her dismissing me like the guards.

The only thing I had that directly linked Seralind to the Prince was her precious jade hair comb. If I presented it to Dame Ashton, and then it to the Prince, we could be out of the dancer house by the week’s end.

I just had to make sure it landed in her hands.

Seralind used it now in her morning and evening routine to care for her hair before bed. I’ve seen that she often gazes at it before falling asleep as well. So, the best chance to swipe it was in the morning while she's busy preparing for guests or out running errands, as she won’t look for it until late in the evening.

I peeked my head around the staircase and noticed Seralind entertaining guests with another lady, listening to a man narrate some kind of story with fake curiosity. She seemed occupied, so I decided now would be the best time without getting caught.

Seralind kept the comb in a loose floorboard, where I used to keep small objects I used as toys before Wilhelmina. I pulled up the board, exposing the jade comb wrapped in cloth and tied carefully with a string in a bow.

She had placed one of the flower accessories she wore at the ball tucked in the string. Untying the cloth made my heart ache for her, but it must be done for both of our good.

The jade comb, although used, still shimmered in my hands like it contained Seralind’s hope.

Please save us! I thought to myself.

I was going to send away the only thing that Seralind had to remind us that our dreams didn’t have to be dreams. I prayed that this little comb would be able to fulfill the important quest I had bestowed upon it.

I hold it up to my face, squeezing my eyes shut. The cold jade touched my cheek, and when I brought it away from me, I swore it sparkled a little brighter because it had my hope instilled in it too.

I carefully tucked Seralind’s hair comb into the cloth and placed it inside my satchel, careful not to damage the intricate design or the golden teeth.

My next obstacle would be leaving without Madame Whispet noticing I’m gone.

I had carefully studied Madame Whispet’s habits. She would disappear into the city for her own pleasures before returning to tend to the house.

At first, I thought about leaving while she was at home, claiming to run errands. I knew she didn’t trust me now, but the Madame was much too busy to follow me to the square and back just to make sure that’s all I was doing.

I couldn’t use Miss Berraultier as an excuse, because she had yet to return from the ports after shipping her gowns. I also didn’t want to ask the other ladies for errands because I didn’t want them to get in trouble with Madame Whispet.

So instead, I did my chores like she expected me to and decided to take my chance when she was out in the city and return before she did.

It was much riskier, but the only option I had at the moment.

After finishing up a few of my chores, I couldn’t find Madame Whispet around the house. I asked Grace about her whereabouts, and she informed me that she had left in a carriage to go shopping.

Therefore, I decided now was my chance.

It was close to the town square, but it wasn’t on her way back to the house. So, if everything goes smoothly, we shouldn’t run into each other.

All the guest rooms have been cleaned, and the patrons tended to. I thought to myself. I also told Auna and Marionne I’ve gone to pick vegetables from the market for Seralind and. Now, if Madame Whispet returns before I do, I have an excuse.

I even shoved some leftover carrots and cabbage in my satchel as a cover. Feeling not nearly as confident but extremely determined, I set out for the town square and hoped for the best.

***

She’s not here!?

I think in astonishment. Sure enough, Dame Ashton’s speckled stallion was gone from the station at the town square.

I hadn’t even thought about the potential rotations she’d be making while visiting the city. Of course, as the captain, she’d have to at least visit every one! It must have been by pure chance that the last time I was here, so was she.

Did I have to run around and visit all the Imperial Guard stations before I found her?! I complained to myself, already feeling exhausted from the endeavor before I had even started. I wasn’t even sure how many there were!

There has to be an easier way to do this… I thought to myself, trying to optimize the little time I had.

There were still most of the imperial guards from the last time I had visited, writing down claims from the commonfolk. Even the guard that had dismissed me last time was still there.

I’ll ask them! Maybe they’ll know!

It wasn’t guaranteed that they’d give up the information freely because I had created such a scene last time. But I wasn’t going to leave them alone until they did.

I marched past the line that had formed straight to a different guard. I couldn’t wait for such a long time just to ask a simple question.

“Excuse me, sir!” I spoke up, loud and clear. The woman who was just speaking to him was interrupted, and they both looked down at me.

“You have to wait in line, little girl!” The woman scolded me.

“I only have a question!” I informed the woman. “It’s only for a moment!”

The woman huffed and rolled her eyes, but thankfully she decided to let me speak.

“Do you know where Dame Ashton is?” I ask the guard.

He had a frown on his face, his greying beard covering his chin. The crow’s feet around his eyes deepened as he squinted at me with thick, furrowed eyebrows.

“The Dame is making her rounds about the city.” He informs me. “But we have stations in the West district as well, so your parents don’t need to travel all the way there.”

“Do you know where she could be right now?” I ask him.

He checks the watch tucked underneath his sleeve, trying to recall where she could be at this hour.

“Probably in the North district by now. There should be a station by a couple of boutiques. ” He tells me.

The North district! I repeat to myself, excited.

“Okay! Thank you!”

I heard the guard who had caught me last time shout at me, probably curious as to what I had asked previously, but I ignored him as I headed towards the North District.

***

Just as the guard had said, Dame Ashton was at the post because her steed was there as well. The roads were busy, as the North District was mostly where nobles came to shop for more expensive accessories or commission dresses. Carriages like the one I had rented for Seralind during the festival were commonplace, clicking on the streets that were much less bumpy than the ones in my own district.

Some noblewomen would glance at me in confusion, exposing how out of place I was. I unconsciously smoothed my dress. Even though it had recently been washed and my braids redone by my sister, I still felt inferior.

I realized that maybe it was inherent and something I'd never shake. Memories resurfaced from when I was at the palace, dressed in frills and bows like them, and I felt the exact same as I did now. But now wasn’t the time for reminiscing or sightseeing.

This post’s line was almost nonexistent, so the guard stationed there was simply standing at watchful attention. I supposed that the nobles didn’t have as much incentive to persuade the Prince as the common folk did.

I clutched my satchel in my arms and approached her.

“G-Good morning, ma’am!” I chirped. She glanced down at me and, upon seeing me, broke into a smile.

“Hello there!” She said in a light tone. Her welcoming personality made me feel a little more confident in my request.

“Do you have a question?”

“I’ve come to speak to Dame Ashton, please!”

The woman tilts her head, as that was probably the last thing she expected me to say.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s possible, sweetheart. She’s…erm…in a mood, you see, because she has lots and lots of work to do.”

Were all the guards just hoping to never speak with Dame Ashton while she was at their station? She must be a scary boss!

“Is she in the tent there?” I ask, gesturing to the small set-up behind the guard.

“Yes, but as I said, she’s very busy. I can give her a message, though, if you’d like.”

It seemed like our conversation was only leading to a dead end. And from her hesitancy to interact with the Dame, I doubted she’d even follow through with her request.

But I wasn’t going to let this guard dismiss me until I did what I came here to do.

How was I going to get Dame Ashton to speak to me? They won’t let me inside the tent, or go to call her out.

So…I’ll have to bring her out to us myself.

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs up with as much air as possible.

“Excuse me!! Dame Ashton?! I’d like to speak with you!!” I cry out as loudly and obnoxiously as possible.

The guard was startled, flinching at my sudden screams. Even passersby gasped in shock at the common girl who had infiltrated their space and was throwing a tantrum.

“Shh, goodness!” She cried, horrified by my behavior.

She waved her hands in front of my face, but I didn’t stop. I wasn’t planning to until she came out to see what the ruckus was all about.

“DAME ASHTON?!” I cry out again. I even cup my hands around my mouth to amplify the sound.

I contemplated just screaming bloody murder, but thankfully I didn’t have to strain my voice that much. The rustle of the tent let me know that at least someone had heard me.